“There are matches that I’ve enjoyed very much,” said Van Gaal. “But there are also matches where I’m very bored or angry, because we are not disorganising our opponent’s defence. But that’s football.

"It’s not every match that every club is playing fantastically, with football that attracts the people. But that is also why the fans are coming. They can criticise, but they can also cheer the players.”

The Old Trafford giants are keen to do a deal in this winter window but Atletico are battling to keep the player, with coach Diego Simeone insistent that the rising star remains a big part of his plans.

Should he depart, Niguez would be the fourth player to leave Atletico for the Premier League in the last two years.

Defender Toby Alderweireld joined Spurs from the Spanish club last summer after a successful loan at Southampton. Twelve months previously, striker Diego Costa and left-back Filipe Luis were both sold to Chelsea.